Safety device for flying-machines.



F. FUGIEL.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR FLYING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7. I9I9.

LEULZQYQ Patented Apr. 22, 191i).

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR F. FUGIEL.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR FLYING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7. 1919.

1,301,247., Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FRANK FUGIEL, OF HAMTRAMCK, MICHIGAN.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR FLYING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

Application filed February 7, 1919. Serial No. 275,488.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK FUGIEL, a citizen of Austria, residing at Hamtramck, county of Wayne, and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Devices for Flying- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in safety devices for flying machines, particularly of the heavier than air type.

The principal object of the invention is to provide means whereby, should the machine lose its equilibrium, or depart from the horizontal when moving in the air, certain parts are released, the same forming planes having suflicient area to materially assist in buoying the apparatus to such an extent as to avoid its precipitate fall to the ground.

A further object is to associate with the mechanism of the apparatus devices which will automatically release the planes thereby minimizing the danger to the operator.

These and other like objects are attained by the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a material part of this disclosure, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing a conventional type of flying machine, extended horizontally as in operation.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same, showing the supporting planes extended, the apparatus overturned and pointing downward. Fig. 3'is a perspective view showing the arrangement of planes as engaged upon the upper and lower portions of the apparatus. Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional View taken on line 41 of Fig. 3, the planes being shown in a closely folded position, and F ig. 5 is a side elevational view showing the governor controlling the'releaseof the plane, the full lines representing its normal appearance and the broken lines showing the position of parts should mishap occur.

Referrinv to the drawings, a conventional fiy'ng machine is indicated by the numeral 1.0, the same consisting of a body having a seat opening 11, and a rearwardly extending projection 12, there being a propeller 14 at the extreme front end. driven by mechanism of the ordinary type nothere necessary to show.

Attached to the rearwardly extending portion of the machine, perpendicular to its central axis, is a frame comprised of bars 15 and 16, respectively at the front and rear of the aviators seat 11, these bars being connected at their extremities by transverse elements 17 and 19, and extending horizontally therebetween are planes or plates 20.

Joined with the bars 17 and 19, and engaged by the hinges 21, are other planes 22 and 23, respectively outer and inner, and extending from near the front of the body of the apparatus are guy rods 24, while other rods 25 are attached to the outer edges of the planes 22, the same being of sufficient strength to hold the planes firmly when they are extended.

Secured in the center at the front edge of the plates 20 are pivots 27, upon which are mounted levers 28, the same pivotally engag ing bars 30 arranged to slide longitudinal within appropriate grooves in the margins of the plates-20, the bars having a plurality of openings 31 receptive of hooks 32, set in register in the inner sides of the planes 22 and 23 so as to normally lock and retain the parts in intimate relation, the planes being released by movement communicated through levers 33 secured to the levers 37 and operated by rods 34.

There is disposed between the outer surfaces of the plates a plurality of flat bent springs 35. normally tending to open or spread the same, th1s action being assisted by bent levers 37 actuated by spiral springs 38, as is best shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 5 the rod 34 is seen to be engaged b an arm 38, pivotally connected by a link 39, in turn pivoted at its opposite end with one of the T shaped arms 40 of a pendulous lever 41, pivoted on the pin 42 at any convenient point in the machine, and actuated at its lower end by a pendant weight 43.

The opposite end 44. of the T shaped lever 40. is contactable with the short arm -L5 of a bell-crank lever, pivoted on a pin 46, the long arm 47 of the bell-crank lever having at its extren'lity a fork 48 carrying pins 49, operating within an annular recess 50. formed in a collar 51, movable on a shaft 52 by reason of the links 53 weights 54, acting in the manner of av centrifugal governor, the shaft 52 being rotated, due to frictional contact with some moving part of the apparatus with disk 55, and the collar 51 normally pressed outward on the shaft 52 by a coiled compression spring 56, encircling the shaft.

In operation, the lever 41 is held against movement during the time that power is communicated to the shaft 52, but if for any reason the engine or parts become damaged so that the shaft 52 ceases to rotate, the T shaped element 414: is released and when the apparatus is turned from a true horizontal, the weight 43 will, by its leverage and weighted connections, actuate the rods 34, moving the slides 80 and thus re lease the plates 22 and 23, which, due to the springs and'37, and also their own weight, move outwardly into the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby materially assisting in sustaining the weight of the apparatus.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a safety attachment for flying machines, the combination with a rectangular frame engaged with the body of the machine, transverse plates secured to said frame above and below the body, leaf ele ments hingedly engaged with said transverse' plates, means for normally holding said leaf elements closely confined to said plates, and means for releasing said leaf elements whereby they may be operatively extended, said releasing means becoming operative upon the failure 0f-the motor of said machine.

2. In a safety device for flying machines, the combination with a motor driven flying machine, plate elements extended horizontally with reference to the body of said machine, leaves hingedly engaged with the rear edges of said plate elements, means for normally holding said leaf elements tightly engaged with said plates, a governor driven by the motor of said machine, a pendant weight normally inoperative until released by the action of said governor, pairs of bars slidable in said plates, means formed in said bars for releasing said leaf elements, and a plurality of spring elements interposed between said plates and'said leaf elements adapted to initially open the leaves outwardly upon their release, accomplished by the action of said governor.

3. In a safety device for flying machines, the combination with a motor driven apparat'us, a pair of horizontal plates above and below the body of said apparatus central therewith, leaf elements hingedly engaged along the rear edge of said plates, bars slidably arranged at the front edges of said plates, said bars having recesses, hooks engaged upon the inner sides of said leaves engageable in said recesses, a lever operatively combined with said bars, and a centrifugal governor adapted to hold said lever in a locked position when power is communicated to the same and to release said lever when power is disconnected and the mechanism moved from a horizontal plane.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

FRANK FUGIEL. 

